Vinaya (2): The Mahavagga
by T. W. Rhys Davids | 1881 | 156,382 words
The Mahavagga (part of the Vinaya collection) includes accounts of Gautama Buddha’s and the ten principal disciples’ awakenings, as well as rules for ordination, rules for reciting the Patimokkha during uposatha days, and various monastic procedures....
Mahavagga, Khandaka 1, Chapter 72
1. At that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus gave a nissaya to shameless Bhikkhus.
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“Let no one, O Bhikkhus, give a nissaya to shameless Bhikkhus. He who does, is guilty of a dukkaṭa offence.”
At that time some Bhikkhus lived in dependence on shameless Bhikkhus (i.e. they received a nissaya from them, they chose them for their upajjhāyas or ācariyas); ere long they became also shameless, bad Bhikkhus.
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“Let no one, O Bhikkhus, live in dependence on shameless Bhikkhus. He who does, is guilty of a dukkaṭa offence.”
2. Now the Bhikkhus thought: 'The Blessed One has prescribed that we shall not give a nissaya to shameless Bhikkhus, nor live in dependence on shameless Bhikkhus. Now how are we to discern modest and shameless persons?'
They told this thing to the Blessed One.
“I prescribe, O Bhikkhus, that you wait first four or five days until you have seen how a Bhikkhu behaves to the other Bhikkhus.”